2_Washington Redskins2

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strength of the team.
There are some questions up front, due to injury and
production concerns. It’s likely free-agent acquisition Jason
Hatcher will begin the season on the physically unable to
perform list, due to the lingering effects of a knee injury, but the
end had 11 sacks for Dallas last year, and if healthy, will be a fine
addition. Barry Cofield is a solid nose man, while Jarvis Jenkins
had his moments while starting five games last year at end.
Last year’s secondary allowed enemy passers to complete an
obscene 65.6 percent of their throws last year and surrendered
29 TDs. That was a big reason Washington allowed 29.9 ppg,
30th in the league. Signing Ryan Clark away from Pittsburgh to
handle the free safety spot was a good idea. He had 104 tackles
and two picks last year and has Pro Bowl talent. Everybody
knows that DeAngelo Hall is a fixture at one corner. He had
four interceptions last year but isn’t at the same level he was
five years ago. David Amerson had an up-and-down rookie
season at the other corner. The 2013 second-round pick had two
interceptions, including one he returned for a TD, but he also had
moments where he struggled in coverage.
Strong safety Brandon Meriweather is back on a one-year
deal. He was suspended for two games last year for a helmet-tohelmet
hit and made the infamous comment that “I guess I just
got to take people’s knees out.” The seven-year vet can hit; there
is no doubt about that. He has to stay on the field, though.
Defensive Player to Watch
There wasn’t a more apt free-agent pick-up during the
offseason than Washington’s signing of Clark, who began his
career in D.C. and returns to help solidify the team’s secondary
and help it return to the top of the NFC East.
Clark, who wore No. 25 before, switched to 21 as a tribute
to former Washington safety—and Clark’s close friend—Sean
Taylor, who was murdered in 2007. He has been open in his
affection for the organization and its fans. Now, all he has to
do is help the Washington defense start acting more like the
Steelers’ outfits on which he played by cutting down on big
plays by opponents and creating opportunities for easy scoring
drives. Clark is happy to have the opportunity to do that, and
Washington is delighted to have him back.
Redskins Special Teams
Sav Rocca averaged a mediocre 42.0 yards per punt last year,
and Washington decided not to re-sign him. That makes sense.
The trouble is that the team doesn’t have anybody on board
it can consider a steady force punting the ball. The job looks
like it belongs to
journeyman Robert
Malone, who has
been with five
organizations in
the previous four
years and never
distinguished
himself. Blake
Clingan, who has
never punted in
an NFL game,
will challenge him.
Kicker Kai
Forbath did
not have an
overwhelming
2013 season,
making just 18-of-
22 attempts and
going a mediocre
5-of-8 from 40
yards and beyond.
He attempted
only two over 50
yards last year. The
Washington return
game, which features Josh Morgan, is not so sturdy, and the
team’s coverage units gave up a three TDs on punt returns and
one on a kickoff. Clearly, there is room for an upgrade.
Prediction
The hiring of Jay Gruden was a good idea, but this team
needs help before it can be a division champion again. The most
important starting point is RGIII. If he’s ready to go, Washington
will improve. But the defense must be stingier, and the offensive
line has to deliver.
SCOREBOARD
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
PLAYOFF FINISH - WC - - -
WON-LOSS 3-13 10-6 5-11 6-10 4-12
POINTS/GAME 20.9 27.2 18.0 18.9 16.6
OPP POINTS/GAME 29.9 24.2 22.9 23.6 21.0
YARDS/GAME 369.7 383.2 336.7 337.0 312.5
YARDS/ALLOWED 354.1 377.7 339.8 389.3 319.7
TURNOVERS 34 14 35 31 28
TAKEAWAYS 26 31 21 27 17
Key Additions:
WR DeSean Jackson, S Ryan Clark, DE Jason Hatcher, OL Mike
McGlynn, LB Akeem Jordan, CB Tracy Porter, QB Colt McCoy
Key Subtractions:
LB London Fletcher, S Reed Doughty, LB Josh Hull, P Sav Rocca
Rookies:
LB Trent Murphy, OT Morgan Moses, G Spencer Long, CB Bashaud
Breeland, WR Ryan Grant, RB Lache Seastrunk, TE Ted Bolser, P Zack
Hocker
DeSean Jackson
DREW HALLOWELL/GETTY IMAGES SPORT